A Daily Dose of Good News
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Pastor Steve’s devotion is offered live at https://youtu.be/LSsuuGqqua4
A printer-friendly version of this devotion is available at DDGN 20200709
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
(Genesis 3:1-6)
Barefoot Holy Soul Moments
If Moses was able to walk up to his meeting place with God that day
Certainly others would have been able to tread the same path
And end up at the same GPS coordinate
And do so with while keeping their sandals on
While standing on plain old dirt.
What makes the ground holy for Moses
Is what happens there
Is the encounter with God that touches his soul
Standing as he was on the bare soles of his feet. (grin, grin)
Moses encountered God who was intent on making God’s self known
And soon after would hand down the Law in the 10 commandments
Where the people would encounter God going forward.
All of which makes be wonder about the holy ground
Where you encounter God.
The places you could take off your sandals as God touches your soul.
Baptism for sure is a great example.
As we gather around water that’s just water
Until we encounter God there with the promise of God’s name:
Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Those are holy moments on holy ground.
The last time I heard a sermon preached on this passage
Was during worship at the Beach Community Church in Costa Rica
Where Annika has become involved while she works down there.
And my soul was so touch by God
Who was so clearly caring for my daughter through that community
That I slid off my sandals in the sand
Walking barefoot to the communion table.
We could have taken our shoes off at church last Sunday
As a portion of our faith community gathered anew for worship
Sensing the presence of God that no mask can conceal
And AV equipment can share.
So many other moments and grounds that God makes holy with us too
Celebrating life and faith at the funerals of family and friends
Reveling in the joy of conceiving and delivery a new baby
Affirming the crossing of life passages at graduations and new jobs and new homes
Embracing each other in prayer during sickness, misfortune and distress
Accompanying and serving those who are oppressed and in need.
And I just had another holy moment on holy ground today too,
Visiting, for the first time in four months, with Floradelle Pfahl
Who while she doesn’t know my name anymore,
Recognizes me as a friend,
Talks fondly of Columbus and attending church every Sunday.
While my visits with her have always been intimately warm,
Today’s was physically warm as well since all visits at Ganzhorn Suites
Must be conducted outside right now!
Indeed, there are holy moments on holy ground all over the place,
Because God is all over the place
Ready to grace you with divine presence.
Thanks be to God for the barefoot holy soul moments
You encounter today.
Amen
